Indians 1, A's 0

CLEVELAND -- During their recent run, the Cleveland Indians have done it with outstanding hitting and outstanding pitching.

On Tuesday night, it was the pitching that stood out the most.

Starter Zach McAllister pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings and gave up five hits as the Indians edged the Oakland A's 1-0.

McAllister needed to be that good because Oakland starter Tommy Milone was just as stingy, pitching seven innings and allowing one unearned run and five hits.

In addition to winning eight of their last nine games, the Indians are 6-1 on an eight-game homestand that concludes with games against the A's on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Indians had scored six or more runs in all of their wins during their streak, but Milone shut down the Cleveland offense.

The Indians' only run was unearned in the fifth inning. Milone (3-4) struck out five and did not walk a batter but still got tagged with the loss.

McAllister struck out four and walked one as his record improved to 3-3. Cleveland closer Chris Perez pitched the ninth to pick up his fourth save.

McAllister and Milone pitched to a standoff in the first four innings. McAllister held Oakland scoreless on one hit and Milone held Cleveland scoreless on two hits.

The Indians were unable to score in the third and fourth, even though their leadoff hitter in both innings doubled. In the fourth, Jason Kipnis led off with a double but was thrown out trying to steal third base, a play that grew in importance when Nick Swisher singled later in the inning.

The Indians scored the first run of the game in the fifth, thanks to some shoddy defense by Oakland. Carlos Santana, leading off the inning, reached second after A's first baseman Brandon Moss and second baseman Eric Sogard both made errors on the same batted ball.

Santana went to third on a single by Mike Aviles and scored on a sacrifice by Yan Gomes, giving Cleveland a 1-0 lead.

NOTES: Left fielder Michael Brantley, who had started 28 of Cleveland's first 29 games, was given a day off. ... Indians right-hander Justin Masterson will start Wednesday against Oakland, a team against whom he has traditionally struggled, going 1-5 with a 10.36 ERA in six career starts. ... A's outfielder Josh Reddick was not in the starting lineup because of a sore right wrist. Reddick is not expected to play in the remaining two games of the series. ... A's pitcher Jarrod Parker, who was removed from Monday's game after five innings with a neck strain, will throw a bullpen session Wednesday and a decision will then be made on whether or not he will make his next start.